Neck chain



Dec. 11, 1923.

1,477,235 F. A. BALLOU, JR

NECK CHAIN Filed July 20. 1921 Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT-"I0 rmnmcx A. BALLOU, .m, or raovrmmcn, anonn ISLAND, ass'IeNoa To B. a.

BALLOU & COMPANY RHODE ISLAND.

Application filed July 20, 1921. Serial Ho. 48 6,067.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. l3ALLoU, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Neck Chains, specification.

This invention relatesoto an improved adjustable neck chain or the like, and has for its object to provide asimple and practical adjustment for an ornamental chain of this character from which a pencil, eyeglass,.

locket or other pendant may be suspended whereby the operating length of the chain may be readily adjusted to suit the con venience of the user and automatically locked in adjusted position against strain which may be brought upon the supporting end of the chain, which adjustment is frequently desired where an article of use such as a pencil or eyeglass is suspended on such a chain or cord about the neck of the wearer.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the'accompany' drawings Figure 1 is a view i lustrating in outline the general arrangement of my improved adjustable neck chain.

Fi re 2 is an enlar ed view illustrating the c utch member as disengaged to permit a free movement of the suspending part of the chain through the clutch casing.

Figure 3 is a view illustrating the lockin action of the clutch when a strain is brought upon the suspendin part of the chain below the clutch casing, s owing that member of the chain as locked in its casing.

in s owing the two opposite holes therein. igure 5 is a detail of the locking member of the clutch casing, showing the binding enlargement member with a rigid stem therein to which one part of the chain is connected. 4

It is found in practice desirable to provide a simple and'efiective clutching mechanism which is neat in appearance, to be a plied to a neck chain or the like for 100 ing the same in adjusted position and at the same time neatly securing one end of the chain to the adjustable portion of the clutch,

accomplished of which the following is a.

when strain is applied to Fi re 4 is a top view of the clutch casand the following of one means by which this result may be \Vith reference to the'drawings, 10"(lesignates the casing member of the clutch which is preferably formed in the hape ofa'hollow ball, but which may be made many desired shape. In this ball I form upper and lower openings 11 and 12 through both of which one one portion 18 of this part below eing connected to a pendant 19.

This chain is preferably shaped in loop the clutch form, as illustrated in Figure 1, to be extended to a size to be readily passed over the part 13 of the chain extends,

1,477,235] F lcE'.,-

me, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A coarom'rroit or 4 is a detailed description head, to engage the neck of the wearer, and to theend 15 of the opposite portion 14 of this chain is secured a rigid stem 16 which projects through the opening 11 and to its inner end is secured an enlargement 17 within the casing, to serve as a binding member for locking the opposite part 13 therein.

In assembling the parts 1 preferably form the opening 11 of a size to just recelve the enlargement 17 before the part 13 of the chain is passed therethrough. When this chain is subsequently passed through both the upper and lower openings 11 and 12 this enlargement cannot, of course, be withdrawn through this opening and, therefore, when a tension is applied to that part of the chain below the casing the enlargement 17 is naturally drawn 11p into the postion illustrated in Figure 3, thereby binding the part 13 against the edge of the opening. 11

securely locking the chain'in adjusted position.

By mounting the binding enlargement 17 upon the lower end of the rigid stem 16, the chain below .the casing this stem is caused to fulcrum necessary to engage the lower rtion 18 of the chain with one hand an the casing member 10 with the other hand, which latter member by moving either up or down to the desired position, regulates the operating length of the chain, but as soon as the cas mg is released and a strain applied to the part 18 alone, then the locking member 17 is drawn up to securely bind the part 13 'in the casing to prevent further extensionform of a hollow ball but I do not wish to be restricted to this particular shape of cooperating locking device as any suitable member for receiving both the chain and the enlargement for producin a binding efi'ect upon the-chain, will fal within the spirit of this invention, its scope being limited only by the terms of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a neck chain, of a clutch casing slidably mounted thereon, the said casing being provided with openings through it through both of which one part of the chain loosely extends and a member of a size equal to the upper of said'openings loosely suspended in said casing by an end of the chain connected to the member through said opening whereby'a pull upon the said part of the chain above said casing causes said member to lift and automatically grip and lock the first said part of the chain against the wall of said casing.

2. The combination with a neck chain, of a clutch member thereon comprising a hollow casing provided with upper and lower openings through both of which one part of said casing comprising a new/pas the chain loosely extends, and a member in body ,of a size greater than that of the space left in the upper opening when the chain is extending therethrough and having'a relatively rigid stem extending out through said upper openlng and connected at its outer end to an end of thechain, whereby a pull upon the second part above said casing causes said member to lift andautomatically grip and bind said first part of the chain against the edge of the upper opening.

3. The combination with an adjustable neck chain, of a clutchthereon formed of a hollow vmember having upper and lower openings through both of which one part of the chain loosely extends, a binding member loosely mounted in said hollow member and having an enlargement of a size greater than thatof the space left in the upper openthrough and having a relatively rigid stem said chain whereby a tension applied to the ing when the chain is extending there-- second part of said chain above said hollow member causes said binding member to lift 4 to close the upper opening and fulcrum upon theedge of the upper opening when the said,

part and end portion of the chain are nonparallel thereby gripping the said part of the chain against the wall and edge of the up er opening of the hollow member.

11 testimony whereof I aflix my signature. FREDERICK A. BALLOU, J R. 

